Plans are at an advanced stage to merge Eastern Cape municipalities from four district municipalities before the local government elections.
The provincial cooperative governance and traditional affairs department yesterday published a notice inviting accounting firms to submit proposals for project management services in the establishment of the new municipalities.
The decision comes after the Demarcation Board resolved to shut down some non-viable municipalities across the country.
Those affected in the Eastern Cape are Chris Hani, Amathole, Sarah Baartman and Joe Gqabi municipalities.
MEC Fikile Xasa said the accounting firms would help solve technical issues that require special skills. "If you are bringing together three municipalities we would want them to have one system of finance, human resources or supply chain.
"We want them to facilitate finding out which system should be used."
Xasa said a meeting will be held in King William's Town involving the department and municipal authorities.
"The meeting is meant to deal with issues that are delaying some of the processes."
In the Chris Hani district, Tsolwana, Nkwanca and Lukhanji will merge to form Enoch Mgijima municipality.
Mgijima was a leader of the Israelites sect in the early 1900s and fought against forced removals in Bulhoek.
Chris Hani district municipality mayor Mxolisi Koyo said the headquarters for the new municipality will be in Queenstown.
In the Joe Gqabi district, Gariep and Maletswai municipalities will merge to form the Walter Sisulu municipality.
Joe Gqabi district mayor Zibonele Dumzela said the headquarters of the new municipality will be in Burgersdorp. He said the district would approach Walter Sisulu University to form a partnership with the new municipality and provide needed skills.
"People will continue to pay for services in their respective towns. It is only the administration and the council that will move to Burgersdorp," said Dumzela.
In the Sarah Baartman district, Baviaans, Ikwezi and Camdeboo municipalities will also merge. However, the final name has not been decided on.
District mayor Eunice Kekana said there were 687 submissions and the only name that was popular was Karoo Mohair municipality. She said the committee responsible received objections and that the final name will be decided after the objections period ends on January 22. The headquarters of the new municipality will be in Graaf-Reinet.
In Amathole district, Nxuba and Nkonkobe municipalities will merge.
All systems go for fewer municipalities after mergers
Plans are at an advanced stage to merge Eastern Cape municipalities from four district municipalities before the local government elections.
The provincial cooperative governance and traditional affairs department yesterday published a notice inviting accounting firms to submit proposals for project management services in the establishment of the new municipalities.
The decision comes after the Demarcation Board resolved to shut down some non-viable municipalities across the country.
Those affected in the Eastern Cape are Chris Hani, Amathole, Sarah Baartman and Joe Gqabi municipalities.
MEC Fikile Xasa said the accounting firms would help solve technical issues that require special skills. "If you are bringing together three municipalities we would want them to have one system of finance, human resources or supply chain.
"We want them to facilitate finding out which system should be used."
Xasa said a meeting will be held in King William's Town involving the department and municipal authorities.
"The meeting is meant to deal with issues that are delaying some of the processes."
In the Chris Hani district, Tsolwana, Nkwanca and Lukhanji will merge to form Enoch Mgijima municipality.
Mgijima was a leader of the Israelites sect in the early 1900s and fought against forced removals in Bulhoek.
Chris Hani district municipality mayor Mxolisi Koyo said the headquarters for the new municipality will be in Queenstown.
In the Joe Gqabi district, Gariep and Maletswai municipalities will merge to form the Walter Sisulu municipality.
Joe Gqabi district mayor Zibonele Dumzela said the headquarters of the new municipality will be in Burgersdorp. He said the district would approach Walter Sisulu University to form a partnership with the new municipality and provide needed skills.
"People will continue to pay for services in their respective towns. It is only the administration and the council that will move to Burgersdorp," said Dumzela.
In the Sarah Baartman district, Baviaans, Ikwezi and Camdeboo municipalities will also merge. However, the final name has not been decided on.
District mayor Eunice Kekana said there were 687 submissions and the only name that was popular was Karoo Mohair municipality. She said the committee responsible received objections and that the final name will be decided after the objections period ends on January 22. The headquarters of the new municipality will be in Graaf-Reinet.
In Amathole district, Nxuba and Nkonkobe municipalities will merge.
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